by Eric Prisbell, USA TODAY Sports

by Eric Prisbell, USA TODAY Sports

IRVING, Texas - Since becoming the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy, Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel has been more celebrity than college football player.

The 20-year-old read the "Top 10" list on The Late Show with David Letterman. He made an appearance on the Tonight show with Jay Leno. He even played golf with the Jonas Brothers.

And in the lead-up to Friday's Cotton Bowl against Oklahoma (Fox, 8 p.m. ET) in Arlington, Texas, he has been the undisputed dominant story line: What will "Johnny Football" do for an encore? Specific matchups in one of more attractive bowl games of the season have become subplots.

"The talk is getting old, and I am sure it is getting old for him, too," Oklahoma linebacker Tom Wort said. "I think we all want to get to the game and stop all the talk. I am ready for it and I am sure he is ready for that, too."

All week, Oklahoma players and coaches have been respectful when discussing Manziel's dual-threat ability. An athletic Sooners defense believes it will have the opportunity to rattle Manziel, but they acknowledge it is easier said than done after watching him from afar overwhelm the Southeastern Conference much of the season.

Manziel broke the SEC's season record of 4,327 yards, which had been set two years ago by Auburn's Cam Newton. And Manziel did it despite facing three teams - Alabama, Florida and LSU - that finished in the top 10 in total defense.

He became the first player in Football Bowl Subdivision history to pass for 300 yards and rush for 100 yards in the same game three times in his career. Manziel did it in the first nine games of the season.

"He knows exactly what he can and can't do," Oklahoma defensive coordinator Mike Stoops said. "His ability to extend and create plays, there's not a defense created to defend against that."

Oklahoma isn't the first opponent to game plan for Manziel, who was not named Texas A&M's starter until two weeks before the season-opening game against Florida. And yet no team, especially since Texas A&M's only loss since the Florida game (Oct. 20 to LSU), has had much success containing him.

"It is like that old saying, you come in there with a game plan and to the fight thinking you are going to do this," Texas A&M defensive end Damontre Moore said. "But once you get hit in the nose all that goes out the window. I think that applies to Johnny a lot. You go in saying you are going to do this and you have the perfect scheme, but he always seems to do something amazing to change your whole thought process."

Said Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops: "If you do not cover guys, he puts the ball where it needs to be. If you do cover him, uh oh, there you go, he is running. He just has a knack for making something happen even when you have played well."

While Manziel became more difficult to stop as the season wore on, Oklahoma's defense has appeared more vulnerable. The Sooners allowed 510.5 yards and 37 points a game in their last four games.

Wort said it is extremely difficult to defend a scrambling quarterback, especially with the mobility of Manziel. The ability by Manziel to keep a play alive, Wort said, means you have to cover and defend longer than you are accustomed to. Mike Stoops said you can forget about stopping Manziel; trying to limit the big plays is the only option.

Despite playing SEC defenses all season, what has impressed Manziel about Oklahoma's defense is their speed and athleticism - "how they jump off the page," he said when he watched them on tape.

"You look all around (the defense), they sit there and say we are more athletic than you and we can beat you one-on-one and do some things that can distract you," Manziel said. "They don't do too much that will trick you."

Manziel joked that he has not seen his Heisman Trophy since he returned to College Station because it has "kind of been on its own tour." And with award shows in Orlando and New York, and a trip to Los Angeles, the next stop for the Manziel tour is Cowboys Stadium. An encore performance against another defense looking to script their own story line.

"I know Johnny too well," Texas A&M wide receiver Ryan Swope said. "He is not going to get caught up with this (national hype). He knows what is at stake for us to win a bowl game."